The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 56 : New 'Friend'

Dusk was really surprised at the action of the young girl. She could not help but hug her back. It would be rude not to do so, and the girl would feel hurt. Dusk saw no reason to hurt the kid just because she was over-reactive and friendly. She was no snob...

After a few seconds the girl pulled back and inspected her from head to toe, making Dusk feel nervous and uncomfortable.

"Wow! You are really far prettier than I expected! My brother does not like pretty girls. He says they are all snobs." The girl exclaimed, making Dusk more uncomfortable. She wondered if the girl had mixed her up with someone else.

She had no idea who this girl was, why she was here, why she was complementing her and why it would make any difference whether her brother liked pretty girls. Beside her, Susco also shrugged her shoulders while Mellow, still lost in the wonder of the room paid no attention.

"Thank You," Dusk replied with a tight smile that seem to upset the girl. "Pardon my ignorance, but may I know who you are? You see, I am not familiar with Regis Society."

The girl smacked her own forehead and replied, "So sorry, I should have introduced myself. Mom says I should not be so arrogant to think everyone knows me and that it is the protocol of Polite Society to introduce oneself even if there is a chance that they are known to the other party... Of course, not to someone who you meet very often. But I get confused with how often is very often."

Dusk looked at the girl, hopeful that she would actually stop blabbering and give her name. However often 'often' was, this was the first time she was meeting, so 'often' it was not.

The girl seemed to realise that and said with a slight blush, "Ooops. Sorry, I am Catherine, Sister of Ju... Cousin Sister of Rosemary Grant."

Dusk got a fleeting glimpse of guilt on the face of the girl. But she gave her a friendly smile and introduced the others with her. "This is Ms. Susco, My Counsellor from Uni-Viva. And this is Mellow Sunrise, who works with me on my VR project."

Catherine shook hands with the 3 of them. Susco scrutinised Catharine and was trying to figure out how old she was. She understood that the girl must be a person of considerable social standing. Being a cousin of Rosemary, she was connected to the Royal Family probably.

"Ms. Susco, are you Ms. Dusk Hale's chaperone?" Catharine asked.

Susco almost dropped her communicator on hearing the question. Then she composed herself, realising both that this girl would be from a Noble Family and still in school. The society in Regis was different from Ci'gazze. An unmarried girl would not be allowed out of town without a chaperone. Behind her, Mellow was already giggling.

"No, Ms. Catherine, I am not her Chaperone. She does not need one. We are here for a business meeting. Actually, we both are directors in a tech company."

"Oh! How nice. You know, my cousin Rosemary also owns a Tech Company. It's got a funny name though. She promised me I can work with her after I graduate. I decided to take Tech like my brother." The bubbly Catherine continued chattering. "Are you hungry? We can go and get something to eat."

"I work for her company." Dusk said with a smile, barely able to keep up with the rapid flow of conversation threads from the kid.

"Oh! What? So if you work, you can't eat? Oh, you mean about Rosemary? But you are the director, so you own the company right, so does Rosemary work for you then? She told me it's her company." The kid was clearly confused.

"Well, actually a company is generally owned by many people. She owns much more than I do, and I listen to her. Being a Director does not mean you run it like a king, you know. Its ok, I did not know all these things myself till a few months ago." Dusk said with a laugh. That put Catherine at ease. She gave a bright smile. Dusk being close to Rosemary made things easier for her. If Dusk has to listen to Rosemary, then she can't scold her.